Folding baby-carriage.



No. 659,423, Patented Oct. 9, I900. R. B. TOPPING. FOLDING BABYCARRIAGE.

(Application filed Mar. 19, 1900.]

(80 Model.)

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ROSS B. TOPPING, OF; CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING BABY-CARRIAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,423, dated October9, 1900.

Application filed March 19,1900. b' rial N0- 9626. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross B. TOPPING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Baby-Carriages, ofwhich-the following is a specification. I

The objects of my invention are to provide a carriage that may be foldedin a compact package, so as to be conveniently carried by the handle,transported or stored when not in actual service, and easily andquicklyset up when wanted.

Myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a planview of the carriage folded. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe runninggear. Fig. 3 is a cross-section showing one wheel foldedunder the running-gear, the opposite wheel erect.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the construction I adopt the usual form of a baby carriage orperambulator having four wheels and rearward-extending shafts providedwith a handle for use in propelling it. The body A is, as usual,provided with four sides, except that these four sides are,

attached to the floor or bottom by means of the hinges a, so that theymay be folded inwardly and lie fiat on the bottom B. The axles b b areprovided with a knuckle-joint b at each end. These knuckle-joints carryon their free end the spindles for the wheels, and at each joint theprojecting piece c,which enters the jaw c, is elongated and the endbeveled. On a line with the eye 01 in the joint inward is another eye dthrough the several parts, including the projecting piece a, throughwhich the pin e, hereinafter described, is inserted to make the jointrigid.

A coupling-bar g connects.the two axles at their center. A pin on eachside of the coupling-bar on each axle prevents lateral displacement, ora loosely-fitted staple may be substituted for the pins to permit alimited sliding movement of the bar. The rear end of the coupling-barprojects beyond the axle and carries a cross-bar h rearward of the rearaxle. the coupling-bar rearward of the front axle. Each of thesecross-bars carries on each end A similar cross-bar h is attached toforwardly-projecting horizontal pins e,adapt ed. to engage in the eyes din the joints 1), so thatif the wheels are in their normal position ashort forward movement of the coupling-bar g inserts the four pinseintothe eyes (1, locking the joint. the head of the coupling-bar g, engagingwith a bolt in the head of the bar, the other end thrust against thefront axle, holds the pins 6 firmly in their places. Two side bars n nare also provided, one on each side of the coupling-bar and attached tothe under side of the axles, which in the ordinary form of the carriageis an extension of the propellingshafts. On the rear end of the sidebars an is a loose pin m, to which are attached the propelling-shafts 0o. A handle a; joins the free ends of the shafts. The shafts are thuscapable of swinging under the carriage and lie alongside of the sidebars, the handle projecting slightly forward of the front end of thecarriage. A wire Z, bent into a rectangular form, is pivot-ally attachedto the two side bars. The free ends projecting rearward are providedwith a book '1), which engages a button g on the sides of the shaft tohold the shafts up when the carriage is in use.

In folding the carriage the shafts are detached from the wire hooks andswung under the running-gear, the handle of the shafts projecting fromthe front end. The coupling-bar g is moved rearward, withdrawing thefour pins 6 simultaneously from the axlejoints. The wheels are thenturned under and lie down on the rim of the hubs. The sides and ends ofthe body are swung inward on their hinges and lie on the floor, making aflat and convenient package which may be picked up and carried by thehandle on the end of the shafts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is

In a folding baby-carriage the combination of a body having sides hingedto the bottom of said body to fold inwardly, with two axles having a kntickle-joint at each end, two eyes in said kn uckle-joint,acoupling-barconnecting the center of the two.axles and having a limitedsliding rearward movement, a crossbar on said coupling-bar rearward ofeach axle, a pin projecting forward horizontally A spiral spring 2' aton each end of said cross-bars, said pin adapted to engage with an eyein said knucklejoint, side bars on the running-gear of said carriage, ahinge on the rear end of said side bars, shafts attached to said hingeadapted to swing underneath said running-gear substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Ross B. TOPPING.

Witnesses:

D. L. TOPPING, H. O. HUNSBERGER.

